Corset.



Patented Aug. I, |899.

S. H. TOLMAN.

C 0 H S E T.

(Application filed Nov. 8, 189B.)

No. 3o,|34.

No Model.)

m: Norms versus oo.. wom-urne., wAsNxNoToN, n4 c.

WITN E55 E5 WW Nrrnn Sterns Terni* OFFICE.

SCOTT ll. TOLMAN, OF BOSTON, l\'IASSACIlUSFT"S.

CORSET.

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,134, dated August 1, 1899.

Application tiled November 8, 1898. Serial No. 695,876. (No model.)

To (all, 107mm 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, SCOTT H. ToLMAN, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to corsets, and has for` its object to provide certain improvements therein whereby deliciencies in the form or figure may be remedied and whereby the skirts may be supported to hang gracefully from the waist.

To this end the invention consists of a cor- 'set having the features illustrated in the drawings and now to be described in detail and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, the same letters designating the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.

Of the drawings, Figure l represents in side elevation a corset embodying my invention, the rear portion being projected or extended for the purpose of forming a bustle. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of the same and illustrates the extensions at the sides to take the place of hip-pads. Fig. 3 represents the corset as spread open for the purpose of illustrating the extension at the rear. Fig. 4 represents the corset without the laterally-ex tending hip portion. Fig. 5 represents one of the ribs or steels. Figs. 6 a-nd 7 represent detail views of the pockets and the ribs or steels.

The corset itself may be formed in the ordinary way so far as the general shape is concerned, being constructed in two halves a d', laced together in the back by cords or lacin gs d2 and having their free meeting ends provided with suitable fastening devices.

The corset is formed of two or more layers of flexible material l) b', which are suitably stitched, as at b5 b5, to provide pockets h2 for the ribs c, of steel,whalebone, or other iiexible or resilient material. At the rear and atthe sides, if desired, the seams h5 b5 extend from the upper portion of the corset to the waist, as indicated at c in Fig. 2, and between the outer layer of material and the inner layer is placed a folded strip d of material, as shown in Fig. 7,which is stitched to the outer layer h and to the inner layer f1' to form continuations b3 b4 of the pockets b2. Thus there is formed a iiap c or extension which begins at the waistline and extends downwardly and rearwardly, as shown in Fig. l. This iiap is formed in two parts,connected by an elastic gore f,which permit-s it to conform to the shape of the wearers waist. The ribs c, which are passed through the pockets b2 b3, are provided with lateral extensions c, joined to the body portions by rivets substantially midway between their ends, as shown in Fig. '7, or by brazing, as shown in Fig. 5, said yielding extensions lying in the pockets b in the flap d, so as to hold said flap extended, and thereby form a bustle. The pockets b4 communicate with the pockets h2 b3, as previously stated, and hence in order to insert the steels the upper ends thereof are thrust into the lower ends of the pockets h3 and are forced therethrough until the ends of the extension c register with the upper ends of the pockets b4, when the steels are forced downward again, and the extensions c' enter the pockets b4, as shown in Fig. 7. The iiaps or extensions g g' at the hips are formed substantially as the bustle c is formed, except that no elastic gore is inserted. By forming the corset in this way I provide lateral and rear extensions which constitute hip-pads and a bustle, it being un derstood that either the lateral extensions or the rear extension may be dispensed with to suit individual taste.

The body portions of the ribs c c conform to the shape of the body of the wearer and form solid supports for the extensions c', so that the latter cannot be forced inward by the weight of the skirts to press against the wearer and annoy or discommode her. It is for this purpose that the extension c projects from the strip c at a point substantially midway between its ends. The extensions e and g of the corset support the clothes of the wearer some distance from the vbody without the employment of heavy pads or wire frames, and thereby cover any deficiencies of the figure without heating the body.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, though without having attempted to set forth all of the forms in IOC which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim is- 1. Aeorsethavingabodyportionwith pookets throughout its length, a, flap hevingpoekets communicating with the first said pookets, and ribs lyin gin the rst-lnentioned pookets and extending from the top to the bottom 'of said body, said ribs having supplemental the said body, and a doubled piece of material secured to its under side and to the body of the corset, and ribs lying in the irst-men 'tioned pockets and extending from the top to the bottom ot' said body, said ribs having sup plemental portions rigidly secured thereto at points between their ends, said supplemental portions lying in the pockets in the said flap, whereby the strain of the flap is borne by the main ribs.

In testimony whereof I have axed my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

SCOTT H. TOLMAN.

Vitnesses:

MARCUS B. MAY, A. D. HARRISON. 

